Unnoticed by anyone but me, an elephant walked into the room, with a folding stool under his arm. He wore a tutu-like frill of pink tulle around his ample waist and his head sprouted a cascade of feathers held in place by a diamante-studded chinstrap. He unfolded the stool, and very daintily lowered his wrinkled grey bottom onto it. Then the elephant draped his trunk over his chubby grey knees and just sat there.

Elephant unemployment has risen spectacularly over the last few generations, a fact which has escaped the attention of most mainstream (human) economists. While this is not surprising given New Zealand’s small elephant population ,and the fact that humans are battling with their own unemployment issues and economic uncertainty, it a matter of deep concern to the elephant community. But it may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a brilliant proposal from a local pachyderm..

I learned all this just last week during a chance meeting last week with an ex-circus elephant. I met him at a committee meeting of all places. The meeting had reached the stage - which many committee meetings do - when a perfect storm of unacknowledged personal agendas, power struggles, and personal animosities had completely derailed the discussion. It was then, unnoticed by anyone but me, an elephant walked into the room, with a folding stool under his arm.

THE GREY URBANISTRo Cambridge, is a freelance writer, radio show host, arts worker & columnist reports on the oddities & serendipities of urban life. She roams Nelson city with a tan & white Jack Russell. Pete, her original canine side-kick features in many of these pieces, but died in April 2015.